Final answer:
The 'New England School' of poets is connected by their thematic use of New England's natural beauty, incorporation of familiar objects and everyday situations, a melding of romanticism with a distinctly local color, and a shift from traditional poetic forms to free verse that celebrates individualism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 'New England School' of poets refers to a group of poets known for their connection to New England both thematically and personally. Their poetry is often characterized by several distinguishing factors. One aspect is their engagement with New England's natural beauty, reflecting it in their work which showcases an embracing of the region's landscapes and seasons. They frequently utilized familiar objects and everyday situations, enabling their poetry to resonate with readers through recognizable imagery and experiences. Furthermore, the New England poets are considered to meld romanticism with local color, by elevating the meadows of western Massachusetts and depicting the rejection of Puritan morality. Their work, unlike that of some contemporaries, is noted for its clarity and accessibility, with poets like Robert Frost becoming widely popular for such traits. Lastly, these poets often represented a change in American poetry, breaking free from strict forms to embrace free verse and a celebration of the individual in the American landscape.